 | | Very good Caterpillar branded tin. |  |  | | Nice tyres and wheels. |  | | Bucket height is limited. |  | | Beacon light on the roof. |  | | Backhoe at work. |  | | Auger is plastic. |  | | Telescopic material arm. |  | | Forks fitted. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Caterpillar 432 Backhoe Loader weighs around 11 tonnes and it can dig to a depth of 4.4m.
Packaging
The model comes in exemplary packaging. There is an outer shipping carton which contains a tin which is protected by a nylon bag. The tin is high quality and includes pictures and details about the real machine.
The review model had no missing parts. There was a very minor defect on the supplied forks which were assembled upside down. It was easy to fix.
The only shortfall is instructions for the model and how to fit the various tools supplied.
Detail
Underneath, the chassis has some detail within the casting. The rubber tyres have a good tread pattern and they are mounted on detailed wheels.
The backhoe is large and mirrors the real machine and the bucket has decent teeth. The connection rivets are painted and are reasonably discrete. The side shift mounting is metal as are the stabilisers.
The cab is good with a windscreen wiper and beacon light, and thin metal grab rails. There is an operator in the cab and he stands out because of the bright high visibility clothing.
The engine cover is metal and the radiator grille is good and there is a sharp Cat graphic on top.
The loader arm looks good with painted connections and sharp model number graphics. The metal bucket is decent.
A number of additional tools are provided. The hammer has a metal body with a plastic drill bit, and the material arm is metal. The auger is plastic. A set of forks is a mix of metal and plastic.
Features
The steering mechanism works quite well although the range of movement is limited. The front axle oscillates so it can be posed as if on rough terrain.
At the rear, the stabilisers pull down into position, and the range of movement allows the model to be posed wheels free.
The backhoe has a reasonable range of movement overall, with the cylinders being stiff enough to hold a pose. The stick is also extendible. The side shift function works well.
At the front, the loader mechanism works well but the range of movement is limited at the upper end so the bucket cannot be held as high as the real machine.
There are quick hitch arrangements front and rear and the various supplied tools are easily attached.
The front bucket opens clamshell style however the tipping angle is very good but the carry angle is very limited.
The material arm is telescopic and can be opened out.
Quality
It is mainly a metal model and is of good quality.
The paint is good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is good value overall.
Overall
As one of the first releases from Diecast Masters this model appears to share some heritage with earlier versions of Caterpillar backhoes. The quality is good and the packaging sets a new standard. The inclusion of a figure in the cab may not appeal to all, but it does show Diecast Masters is prepared to be a different model maker.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in May 2016. A version of the 420F2 IT was also produced as Diecast Master's model number 85233 .
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|  | | Various tools are supplied. |  | | Large backhoe. |  | | Underneath. | |
|  | | Figure in the cab. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Decent hammer. |
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